Couldst give ennobling beauties, deck'd by thee, The harlotry of art! HARDOITCH, or HARDWICK, about two miles from Chertsey, is the place in which the inhabitants of the hundred of Godly are summoned to appoint and choose the king's officers, at a court leet appointed by the stewards of the manor and clerk of the crown lands: it is held annually on Whit Tuesday, in the forenoon; at which place the gentlemen dine in a large barn. In the afternoon a fair is held, called Hardoitch Court Fair. Coasting the Thames, at the distance of four miles, we arrive at WEYBRIDGE, four miles from Hampton Court: this village took its name from a bridge formerly erected here over the Wey. In the parish are Say's Place, and Brooklands, the seat of George Payne, Esq. The latter a charming place; and if it were not in the vicinity of Pains Hill and Oatlands, might be held in the highest estimation. OATLANDS, the seat of his royal highness the duke of York, by whom it was purchased from the duke of Newcastle. It is a noble mansion, is situated in the middle of a park, nearly six miles in circumference. From the verge of the Terrace, which has a grand and majestic appearance, is seen a beautiful landscape. The serpentine river, though artificial, appears as if it were natural; and a stranger, from the view of Walton Bridge, would conclude it to be the Thames. The walks in the pleasure grounds are enchanting, formed for contemplation and retirement. The shrubbery is very fine, leading through a pleasant walk, to a romantic grotto, built by the duke of Newcastle, consisting of two superb rooms and a winding passage, in which is a very neat bath about six feet square, paved and lined with white tiles, supplied by water from the outside issuing through rocks. On the opposite side of the park, through an avenue of trees, are the duke's stabling, stabling, &c. a large building of brick and stone. The general beauties and ornaments of this delightful place, are replete with grace or majesty, so that the traveller leaves these romantic scenes with reluctance. The greatest object of admiration, however, is her royal highness the duchess! Possessing the supereminent dignity of royal birth and connexion, she can descend into all the Arcadian scenes of rural retirement, blessed by the tenantry who adore her beneficence, and by their offspring who amply partake of her bounty. The festivities of the present year (1808) at Oatlands, on his royal highnesses birth-day, exhibited at the same moment all the radiance of royalty in the persons of their majesties and the princes and princesses, who visted this place on the occasion, and the benignity of disposition which centres in the dutchess; she withdrew the curtains of a pavilion, and displayed to her royal visitors a number of female children, whom she protects, educates, and clothes, enjoying themselves at the festive banquet given on the occasion by their patroness and benefactress. Such scenes confer and receive admimiration; it is here that princes appear and are truly amiable! At Oatlands were discovered, in 1725, some curious wedges; "the soil they were found in was a dry, loose sand, but an undisturbed stratum about twenty feet perpendicular below the surface: there were many different strata of sand, some yellow, some whitish, before you come to that where these wedges were fixed."* After the various opinions that have been broached for and against the probability of Julius Cæsar's attack of the Britons at the place now called Coway Stakes, it appears very extraordinary that such a discovery should occur to sanction the opinion of Camden, Gale, and others on that side of the question. At Walton, between Weybridge and Moulsey, are the remains of an antient camp, supposed to have been Ro * Harl. MSS. 7017. p. 31. VOL. V. No. 117. man; man; and from this village runs a rampart of earth, with a trench, as far as St. George's Hill, in the same parish. A curious bridge over the Thames, was erected here in 1750, by Mr. Decker: it has been taken down, and a new one erected in its stead. In this parish is Apps Court, Ashley Park, Burwood, Burwood Hill, Burwood Park, Mount Felix, and other mansions of the nobi lity, &c. Across the country by St. George's Hill, and Pains Hill, we arrive at COBHAM, a pleasant and healthy village, situated on the river Mole, at the distance of nineteen miles from London. In the river are plenty of pike, trout, perch, gudgeon, and dace, with excellent eels. There are two very good brick bridges over the river, built within a few years at the expence of the county. In this parish are two medicinal springs, Cobham Wells and the Spa, which were formerly much resorted to. Cobham belonged formerly to the abbey of Chertsey, where the abbot had a fish pond about a mile in compass; but, for want of being properly cleaned and kept in repair, it is now choaked up. To the west of the town is an antient monument, supposed to have been erected in memory of some British chief. The principal manufactory in this town is Mr. Raby's iron and copper works. Its fair is on December 11th, for horses, cows, hogs, &c. PAINS HILL, is situated near Cobham. From the western bank of the river Mole, a series of desolate moory hills extend to a considerable distance; of this dreary tract that portion nearest the river was occupied by Charles Hamilton, Esq. whose taste and perseverance, converted a bare waste into a Paradise. A semicircular park, sloping on the Mole, bounded and overlooked by a crescent-formed girdle of plantations and gardens, constitutes the great outline, each part of which is finished in an admirable manner, so as to combine in perfect harmony a vast variety of situation and embellishment. The lake, with its islands, the the wild woods, the ornamented groves, the shrubberies glowing with the bright tints of well-selected exotic vegetables, give and receive from each other the varied and mingled beauties of association and contrast. From Mr. Hamilton this delightful retreat passed to the late Benjamin Bond Hopkins, Esq. who added a handsome and convenient house. The premises, which consist of ninety-eight acres and three roods, are situated in the parishes of Cobham, Walton, and Wisley. They were vested, by the last will of Mr. Hopkins, in trust, in George Chamberlaine, Esq. George Bond, Esq. and Sir Samuel Hayes, bart.; by whom the whole, under certain provisions, were to be sold. This estate, however, consisting partly of freehold land, and partly of detached parcels held by lease under the crown, and the boundaries of which could not be ascertained, the trustees obtained an act of parliament in 1795, to enable his majesty to grant to them all the said parcels of leasehold ground in fee. Pains Hill was purchased by Mr. Hibbert; at the same time, a famous statue of Bacchus, which had been successively possessed by Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Hopkins, and valued at 1700l. was sold for about 4007.* This place is to be seen only on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. COBHAM PARK, which belonged to the late earl Ligonier, is built after the mode of an Italian villa. The principal rooms are richly ornamented; the cielings gilt, and the offices below contrived with judgment. The river Mole passes by the side of the gardens, and, being broader than usual, has a happy effect; the banks are disposed into a slope, with a broad grass walk on each side. At the end of this walk is a very elegant room, forming a delightful retreat in hot weather, being shaded with large elms on the south side, and having the water on the north and east. The house is situated about half a mile from the road to Portsmouth, and is so much hid by the trees near it, as not to be seen till the rise on the heath beyond Cobham. ESHER PLACE, was the seat of the right honourable Henry Pelham Miss Pelham is the present possessor; it is a Gothic structure of brick, with stone facings to the doors and windows. It was originally built by William Wainfleet, bishop of Winchester, and altered and improved by cardinal Wolsey. Mr. Pelham rebuilt the whole (except the two towers in the body of the house, which belonged to the old building) in the same stile of architecture. The river Mole glides by it; and a fine summer house on a hill, on the left of the grove, commands a view of the house, park, and all the adjacent country. The enchanting varieties in this beautiful domain, and the many happy cir cumstances which concur "In Esher's peaceful grove, Where Kent and Nature vie for Pelham's love," render this little spot uncommonly agreeable. CLAREMONT, was the seat of the late duke of Newcastle, by whom, when earl of Clare, its present name was given; on which occasion Garth wrote his poem of "Claremont," in imitation of "Cooper's Hill,” It was a small house, built under an hill covered with wood by Sir John Vanbrugh, of whom it was purchased by the duke, who was at great expence in beautifying the gardens; adding to the house a considerable extent of building, in stile with the original; and a large room, in which he entertained foreign ambassadors, and held magnificent banquets. It was purchased by the late lord Clive, who pulled it down, and erected a very elegant villa, in a better situation. The park is distinguished by its noble woods, lawns, mounts, &c. The summer house, called the Belvedere, on a mount on that side of the park next Esher, affords an extensive view of the country. This beautiful place is now the property of the earl of Tyrconnel. Claremont is the only legitimate architectural offspring of Capability Brown; it cost lord Clive 150,000l. EMBER COURT is situated in a delightful country, not far from Ditton. The right honourable Arthur Onslow, speaker |